People are often looking for a Rolex serial number or Rolex model number database to verify their Rolex serial numbers and to work out their Rolex year of manufacture. Unfortunately many of the online Rolex serial number databases are very inaccurate, out of date and have been copied inaccurately many times. Still many people quote them and so wrongly date their watch.

I have therefore compiled a more accurate Rolex serial number database below, for everyone to use, from utilising highly accurate and trusted data.

The Rolex serial number of a watch is stamped between the lower lugs, where the bracelet is held in place. Up until the end of 1972, the ‘quarter’ of manufacture and year could also be found stamped inside the case back (eg iii 65 for 3rd quarter of 1965). The stamped case back date is usually close to the case date. It should never be newer than the date of the serial number, but on occassions it could be up to a year or two older as Rolex would have casebacks produced in batches and use them up as needed.

The Rolex serial no database below should give you a reasonably accurate idea of the year of your Rolex. Remember that the year of Rolex manufacture does not necessarily mean that was the year of sale, so Rolex guarantee papers or bracelets could be dated later, but not earlier.

If you have a query please feel free to contact me and if I can help you I will certainly try.

But if you are trying to work out “what year is my Rolex?” this should be a good place to start….

Rolex Serial Number

Year

20,000 – 40,000

1927 -1937

40,000 – 200,000

1938 -1942

200,000 – 300,000

1941 -1944

300,000 – 500,000

1945 -1946

500,000 – 620,000

1947 -1948

620,000 – 700,000

1948 -1950

700,000 – 725,000

1951

725,000 – 880,000

1952

880,000 – 999,000

1953

0 – 49,000

1954

In 1954 when Rolex reached serial numbers of 1 million they started again as follows:-

Rolex Serial Number

Year

0 – 50,000

1954

50,000 – 150,000

1955

150,000 – 250,000

1956

250,000 – 350,000

1957

350,000 – 450,000

1958

450,000 – 550,000

1959

550,000 – 650,000

1960

650,000 – 755,000

1961

755,000 – 865,000

1962

865,000 – 1,000,000

1963

1,000,000 – 1,105,000

1964

1,105,000 – 1,275,000

1965

1,275,000 – 1,485,000

1966

1,485,000 – 1,710,000

1967

1,710,000 – 1,945,000

1968

1,945,000 – 2,240,000

1969

2,240,000 – 2,590,000

1970

2,590,000 – 2,890,000

1971

2,890,000 – 3,200,000

1972

3,200,000 – 3,570,000

1973

3,570,000 – 3,865,000

1974

3,865,000 – 4,115,000

1975

4,115,000 – 4,260,000

5,000,000 – 5,085,000

1976

5,085,000 – 5,430,000

1977

5,430,000 – 5,865,000

1978

5,865,000 – 6,205,000

1979

6,205,000 – 6,560,000

1980

6,560,000 – 7,130,000

1981

7,130,000 – 7,600,000

1982

7,600,000 – 8,375,000

1983

8,375,000 – 8,785,000

1984

8,785,000 – 9,155,000

1985

9,155,000 – 9,860,000

1986

9,860,000 – 9,900,000

1987

* During 1976 Rolex retained cases to be used as future ‘Service Cases’ and have issued these, so far, from late 4.38m cases to 4.8m cases.

When Rolex reached their 10,000,000’th serial number in 1987 they switched to Letter Prefix based serials starting with ‘R’. These did not follow alphabetically, nor did they start on the 1st of January each year – instead starting at different points within a year once all the serials had been used. A letter prefix was followed by 6 digits – so again giving 1m serials per letter and in the order below.

Letter Prefix

Year Started

R

1987

L

1988

E

1990

X

1991

N

1992

C

1993

S

1994

W

1995

T

1996

U

1997

A

1998

P

2000

K

2001

Y

2002

F

2003

D

2005

Z

2006

M

2007

V

2008

G

2010

From 2010 onwards Rolex serial numbers changed again. This time to 8 digits consisting of randomly generated numbers and letters. This does mean that currently and going forward only Rolex will be able to tell you the date of production on any particular watch.